Most foreign investors set up a Thai private limited company. It is a separate legal entity, allows the investor to hold shares, employ staff, invoice customers and apply for BOI promotion or work permits.
A representative office suits companies that only want to study the market and coordinate with head office — it cannot earn revenue in Thailand. A branch office can trade but faces closer scrutiny under foreign business rules. Joint ventures with a Thai partner are common in trading and regulated sectors.
Which structure fits depends on whether you need to bill customers in Thailand, hire staff, sign long-term leases, and whether a Thai partner is involved.
Keep reading
More questions, answered
Information on investment, BOI, taxation, immigration, company structures and regulations is provided for general information only and should be independently verified with qualified Thai professionals and the relevant government authorities.